Reminiscences of Queensland, 1862-1899 (Esprios Classics)

Book excerpt: William Henry Corfield (1843-1927) was a carrier, publican, storekeeper and politician in Queensland, Australia. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly. Deciding there was more money to be made servicing the goldfields than mining them, Corfield established a carrying business in about 1868. Using bullock teams, he transported goods from the coastal ports to the various Queensland goldfields. In 1878, he formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Robert Fitzmaurice, to set up businesses in the new town of Winton in Western Queensland. They established the North Gregory Hotel and the Corfield and Fitzmaurice Store. When Fitzmaurice lost his sight in 1884 Corfield bought out his shares in the businesses, and then sold the hotel but retained the store in partnership with W. M. Campbell.